Instant Recap: Oklahoma State Defeats West Virginia 70-66, Breaks Big 12 Skid

The Pokes finally figured out how to close out a close one.

Oklahoma State defeated West Virginia 70-66, breaking the Cowboys’ six-game losing streak and moving them to 9-11 and 1-6 in Big 12 play.

The Cowboys came in not having won a game in conference play, and the Mountaineers came in not having won one outside of Morgantown. Something had to give.

Brandon Garrison tied a career high scoring 20 points (6-of-8 shooting), grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists. He also made four-straight free throws to help the Cowboys ice the game. Javon Small scored 15 points and hauled in 12 (!) rebounds to go with seven assists.

The Mountaineers led for most of the second half, but the Cowboys stayed within striking distance and the strike they did, from deep. OSU shot just 8-of-27 from 3 but ended the game knocking down three of four from beyond the arc.

John-Michael Wright hit one with just over four minutes left to pull within 61-59, and then Bryce Thompson, who was at that time 1-for-7 from the field, nailed a corner 3 in transition with 3:24 remaining to give the Cowboys their first lead since the 11:30 mark.

Then Small set the student section on fire with another deep ball to put the Pokes up for good with 53 seconds remaining.

OSU ended the game on an 8-2 run, bucking a recent trend of late-game collapses. The Cowboys came into this game 0-7 in contests decided by five points or fewer, but they held the visiting Mountaineers without a made field goal over the final 3:03.

Things won’t get any easier the rest of the way. This was the last game the Cowboys were projected to win the rest of the way according to KenPom.com, and three of their next four on the road. But the Cowboys needed a win, and they finally went out and took it.

Next up, the Cowboys head to Lawrence to take on a Top 10 Kansas team fresh off a loss at Iowa State.